Is it Difficult to Use Stealth in Modern Japan? – Part 02
As nobles exited the grand assembly room, dusk was already creeping in outside the window. Kujastria moved to the small antechamber, where she immediately addressed Leonie.
“It didn’t go as you wished.”
“I anticipated this outcome. I appreciate all the support you’ve given, Your Majesty.”
There were only Kujastria, Leonie, and Duke Nightblaze present in this room.
“I couldn’t do much.”
“Please don’t say such things.”
Though only familiar faces were present, an apology from Queen Kujastria held significant weight. As a priest, Leonie did not officially serve the kingdom, much less the Queen, but Kujastria, understanding her feelings, apologized anyway.
Leonie, a self-made and pragmatic individual, had earnestly followed the path of faith within the corrupt Church. She was willing to sacrifice her life for her beliefs. In fact, when the Beastman Army attacked the holy city of Agiapole, she entered enemy lines alone to face their leader, Gerhardt, without flinching. Hikaru even called her a woman of strong character.
The head of the Church, Pope Luvain, had requested support for the Theocracy of Bios through her.
The Accursed Toxin that wreaked havoc in Ponsonia was released by Bios. The actions of the former pope and high-ranking priests resulted in numerous casualties among the kingdom’s citizens, and even more in the Quinbrand Empire. Discussions about reparations had not yet concluded, and Bios was already requesting assistance.
“We’ve already talked about it, but I still can’t believe that the Theocracy of Bios is this alarmed about the dungeon.”
“I believe it’s the same type as the other dungeons that simultaneously appeared everywhere. Unfortunately, it’s far bigger than we expected.”
Leonie proceeded to detail the situation once more. She had received an urgent report from Bios, and the letter came directly from Pope Luvain himself, emphasizing the gravity of the matter.
A mountain had suddenly appeared in the view of the holy city of Agiapole. A dungeon had manifested, and numerous monsters had spawned, reaching the vicinity of the city.
These monsters were classified as Rank D or higher in the Adventurers Guild, posing a significant challenge even for regular soldiers. Winged demons, corrupted slimes crawling on the ground, and two-headed serpents were among the creatures. Fortunately, holy magic spells were highly effective against them, allowing Agiapole, which had many priests, to somehow manage the situation.
However, monsters were also heading into directions away from the city. If the roads were blocked, the flow of goods to the holy city would cease, causing it to run dry within a few months.
For Bios, having faced the Confederacy of Einbiest’s attack, changes in leadership, large-scale purges, and the Quinbrand Empire’s invasion, this was an additional nightmare.
An survey team sent into the dungeon found it awash with monsters on the first floor, making progress impossible. Nevertheless, using what limited resources they had, they managed to gather some information.
First: the dungeon was constructed using a natural mountain.
Second: there was a stone monument at the entrance, and it bore the following inscription:
“Those who walk the path of supremacy,
Those who seek wisdom,
Those who master the mystic arts,
Those who excel in cunning,
Those who possess bravery,
Accept my challenge.
The one who overcomes all shall learn the essence of magic—Runay-aas o Saak.
The signature meant Runay-aas of the House of Saak in ancient tongue.
While some were familiar with the name Runay-aas, many others were not. But if you inquired in places like the Adventurers Guild instead of the royal castle, most would say they know the name and their aliases—the Ancient Archwizard and the Sage of the Abyss.
The name Runay-aas was legendary, and there were many stories about them. As a sorcerer, they collected treasures from around the world, locked them away, and disappeared. Their research into forbidden magic resulted in the destruction of a nation and their own demise. Their development of immensely powerful magic sparked fear and hostility from various countries, and Runay-aas, sensing the danger, embarked on a journey with trusted disciples to create a paradise at the bottom of the ocean.
The most famous tale about them told how they created an unprecedented, massive labyrinth and sealed numerous treasures within it. Despite being considered a fairy tale, adventurers often talked about challenging Runay-aas’s labyrinth over drinks, and someone would always respond that they’d have to find it first.
Despite the significance of Runay-aas’s name, the mention of it in a monument inside the dungeon near Agiapole was not cause for joy. Dungeons bearing the name Runay-aas had appeared and been cleared multiple times in the past, often constructed by ordinary sorcerers seeking recognition. The possibility that the current dungeon was the work of a copycat was high, especially given the engraved name on the stone monument.
During the earlier meeting, the nobles naturally doubted the dungeon’s authenticity, and even if it turned out to be the genuine Great Labyrinth of Runay-aas, there was little they could do about a dungeon in a neighboring country. Moreover, they weren’t inclined to send troops to help thin out the monsters around the dungeon. Doing that could contribute to clearing the dungeon, and if it happened to be the real labyrinth, the vast wealth would go to the Theocracy of Bios anyway.
“Your Majesty, I didn’t mention this earlier as it might be unnecessary information, but the letter from His Holiness indicated the following: Lord Gerhardt Vatex Anchor, the leader of Einbiest, is currently staying in the Holy City and has begun to work on clearing the dungeon.”
“Is that so?”
Before she could ask why such important information wasn’t revealed earlier, Kujastria held her tongue.
Even if she mentioned it, the fact remained that Luvain was seeking assistance. A different perspective suggested that the situation was dire enough for Luvain to seek assistance despite Gerhardt’s involvement. He assumed that Gerhardt might not be able to clear the dungeon.
Had this information been revealed earlier, opinions would undoubtedly lean towards hesitancy in sending troops to such a perilous location. Leonie had anticipated from the beginning that this request for assistance would face opposition, and she hoped for a response along the lines of, “Monsters spilling from a dungeon? Sure, we can help a bit,” and that would have been more than enough. She was quite the strategist.
Since she failed to obtain the nobles’ consent, she decided to disclose all information in the hopes of gaining at least Kujastria’s support.
After a brief contemplation, Kujastria raised her head. “Duke Nightblaze. What if we share information about the dungeon with the Adventurers Guild?”
“Would you kindly explain?”
“There are high-ranking adventurer parties in the capital. If I recall correctly, there are two Rank A parties, five Rank B parties, and Rank C parties are in double digits. Currently, there is a directive not to leave the capital without permission.”
“That is true. But Your Majesty, are you saying it’s acceptable to send adventurers to the Theocracy of Bios?”
“Yes.”
Duke Nightblaze frowned. “Your Majesty, adventurers are valuable assets, too. While we were fortunate that the Accursed Toxin’s casualties were kept to a minimum—thanks to Sir Silver Face’s efforts—the capital is still in a state of turmoil. In this time of uncertainty, it’s not advisable to divert scarce assets away from the capital.”
He made a valid point. Even Leonie was surprised by Kujastria’s suggestion.
“I understand that,” Kujastria replied. “However, what kind of crisis do you envision that would require us to rely on adventurers? Gigantic monsters attacking? A Fire Drakon did come from the sky this year.”
She was referring to that time when Hikaru flew in the sky with the Fire Drakon. To divert attention from the wanted Lavia, he had asked the Fire Drakon to put on a little show and breathe fire into the sky. There was no one around who knew the truth, however.
That incident was one of the reasons for the transfer of the throne, but that was beside the point.
“Did the adventurers take any action at that time? Even the knights inside the castle could not mobilize properly.”
“W-Well… Such beings are extremely rare…”
“Then, in recent years, have there been any incidents where Rank A adventurers were requested to take action?”
“…”
“Moreover, adventurers act on commissions from the guild, and substantial funds are required for those commissions. Instead of keeping Rank A and B adventurers idle in this capital, wouldn’t it be better to use them wisely?”
“Hmm…”
Duke Nightblaze groaned with his arms crossed. He was close to being persuaded. Now it was only a matter of finding a compromise, such as allowing only Rank B parties and below to leave, or at most one Rank A party. Kujastria was satisfied.
“With all due respect, Your Majesty,” Leonie cut in, “I know I’m the one who requested the assistance, but I understand His Excellency’s reluctance. Why do you go to such an extent? Don’t you hate the Church for what it did to your citizens?” She couldn’t understand Kujastria’s thoughts.
Kujastria, although a young girl, was clever enough to negotiate with Duke Nightblaze. Setting aside emotions like hatred and resentment, from a purely pragmatic standpoint, providing support to the Theocracy of Bios wasn’t an especially favorable deal. Kujastria was well aware of that.
NEXT CHAPTER
RELEASE RATE
Rule Breaker (Light Novel)
Speed up schedule by 10 hours
Current schedule: Every 70 hours
Bro ‘runny ass sack’, you almost made me spit my drink out.